WTC Final 2023: You have to attack him early – Aaron Finch on what should be Australia’s strategy against Cheteshwar Pujara

Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch feels it will be crucial for the Pat Cummins-led team to launch their attack early against Cheteshwar Pujara. Finch reckons Australian bowlers should test Pujara’s front-foot play in the first 10 deliveries.

Pujara had proved to be a thorn in Australia’s flesh in the 2018-19 series when he had played at the top of his game. The right-hander had scored 521 runs in four Test matches at an average of 74.42, including three centuries. More importantly, he had faced a total of 1258 balls and had sucked every ounce of energy of the Australian fast bowlers.

Pujara is once again going to hold the key for India while batting at one down in the WTC Final. He has been in good form in the recent past as he scored 545 runs in eight innings at an average of 68.12, including three centuries while playing for Sussex in County Division Two.

Aaron Finch said on Star Sports show Game Plan, “Remember back to 2018, he batted for so long. We had an ODI series after it and the guys said if Pujara walks out to bat at No. 3 in this ODI series, we are going home, because he just ground everyone down.”

Finch added: “He is a fantastic player. You have to attack him early. I think you have to challenge his front-foot defense in his first 10 balls. The first 10 is when everybody is at their most vulnerable, no different for him.”

Finch added if Pujara gets settled, it is hard to get rid of him as he is solid as a rock. Pujara is known to breathe down the neck of the opposition bowlers with his solid defense and it is not easy to breach his defensive game.

“You have to be prepared to pitch it right up, get him driving early. If you let him just leave the ball on the back foot, nice and pretty bowling as it’s called, once he gets in, he is so hard to remove and you need something special.”

The former Australian opener feels veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon will play a key role for the team in dismissing Pujara.

“You have to be prepared to pitch it right up, get him driving early. If you let him just leave the ball on the back foot, nice and pretty bowling as it’s called, once he gets in, he is so hard to remove and you need something special.”

The WTC final will be played at the Oval from June 7.